Nearly 1,500 re-enactors will assemble on the grounds of the Inn at Warner Hall in Gloucester this weekend to take part in the Return to the Hook re-enactment, a Revolutionary War reenactment of the 1781 Yorktown Campaign, celebrating General George Washington’s defeat of General Charles Cornwallis and the victory over the British Army.

The Return to the Hook, which is free and open to the public, is expected to draw greater numbers of guests and participants that took part in the original Battle of the Hook re-enactment in 2008.

According to event spokesperson Warren Deal, at least 10 artillery units, eight boats and over 20 horses will take part in the Return to the Hook. "We expect probably 150 artillery rounds and 20,000 rifle rounds to be shot each day," Deal said.

He also said Warner Hall is going to be set up like a typical farm of the Revolutionary War era, including a split-rail fence to be erected on the site. Inside the fence, Deal said local 4-H students will be tending a breed of sheep typical of the era.

Other special activities during the weekend will include musical performances by fifes and drums, military camp life programs, an evening artillery demonstration, as well as a reenactment of the Battle of the Hook itself.

As in 2008, re-enactors will be visiting schools in both Gloucester and Mathews on Friday with living history demonstrations, Deal said

Activities will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday with a display of artifacts from the Battle of the Hook along with historical paintings and art at the Gloucester Main Street Association’s office in Main Street Center. Historian, author and Battle of the Hook scholar Robert Selig will speak Friday at 6 p.m. in the office.